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Narcotics Anonymous chapter coming to Beaumont

A new Narcotics Anonymous chapter has been started in Beaumont in order to offer support and help for those who suffer from substance abuse.

Beaumont resident Steven Zerebeski has started a Beaumont chapter. The first meeting was held at the Eaglemont Church on Nov. 20. Regular meetings will be held every Monday evening at 7 p.m. in the church’s basement.

Zerebeski decided to start a Beaumont chapter to extend a hand to those still suffering from substance abuse.

“I wanted to extend our message to people that are still suffering. If you read any of the headlines in the newspaper … we obviously have a drug epidemic going on,” he commented.

Although there are regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in town and in nearby municipalities, the nearest NA chapter is in south Edmonton.

In an effort to get the word out to the community, Zerebeski said he has talked with individuals at the Edmonton NA meetings he attends, as well as Beaumont RCMP, FCSS and other groups.

“I figured this would be the best way to extend what I've found through Narcotics Anonymous to people still in active addiction and people that want to get sober,” Zerebeski said. “It's not very visible here in Beaumont … but there is people that suffer.”

Zerebeski said he hopes the meetings will lessen the stigma as well. Many of the issues with substance abuse, he remarked, were emotional. The emotional fallout from substance abuse can be more than just financially depressing, it’s often isolating as well.

“Our meetings are going to be open to the public as well so anyone can stop by and see what's going on there. And I think it'll help to alleviate some of the stigma with addiction,” said Zerebeski.

He added that NA meetings tend to be more inclusive as they don’t focus solely on alcoholism. They address substance abuse problems, regardless of the drug of choice, which includes alcohol.

“It's not just about the substance, more about yourself and the problems you have. Once you sober up and stuff like that you realize the problem has very little to do with the substance, but you know whatever emotional trauma you're suffering through.”